Protective helmet



May-l2, 14942.

M. SCUDDER ET AL PROTECTIVE HELMET Filed May 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l MASQ/v 5cl/0052'.

May l2, 1942. M. scuDDER r-:TAL Y 2,282,330

' PROTECTIVE HELMET K Fiied May 1, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 F/r TeAa EV.

Patented May 12, 1942 Fries PROTECTIVE HELMET Mason Scudder, Clayton, and Ebner No1te,'-St..

Louis, Mo., and Harry B. Latina, East St. Louis, Ill., assignors to Rawlings Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri application May 1, 1941, sei-iai No, 391,314

11 Claims.

This invention relates to helmets, and hasfor one of its objects vto provide an efficient, lightweight protective helmet that is comfortable, snug-fitting, and well ventilated.

Another object is to provide a protective helmet that can be removed and installed quickly and Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, on a reduced scale, showing the inner side of one of the ear aps; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View, showing the outer side of one of the ear naps.

In the accompanying drawings wh ich illustrate the preferred form of our invention', A des- ,c

ignates the crown portion of the helmet, which consists of a substantially dome-shaped, lightweight, rigid member made of hard fibre or other suitable material and provided with Ventilating holes I. vAt the rear end of the crown member A is a depending neck shield or guard B formed from the same kind of material as the crown member and rigidly attached to same, said neck guard B being curved transversely and longitudinally and made of such widthA and depth that it co-acts with the crown member to completely cover the back portions of the users head and neck. Ear flaps C are hinged'or pivotally attached to the bottom edge of the crown member A immediately in front of the back shield B, said ear flaps being made of such depth that when the helmet is in operative position on the users head, the lower ends of said ear flaps will be located at or slightly below the users jaw bones. The ear aps C are formed partly from material that is relatively soit, pliable or flexible, and partly from material that is rigid or inflexible.

In the preferred form of our invention herein villustrated the shaped piece of fibre or other stiff lmaterial that constitutes the neck shield B is arranged in overlapping relationship with the bottom edge portion of the crown member A and rigidly attached to same by metal rivets 2, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Each of the ear flaps C comprises a relatively thick piece of pliable material, such as felt or sponge rubber, faced on its inner and outer sides with relatively thin sheet material, such as thin leather or fabric, the major portion of the peripheral edge of the ilap being provided with a binding 3. The top edge of the ear flap is permanently connected to the bottom edge portion of the crown member A, preferably by thread stitches 4 that also pass through a finishing strip or binding 5, formed by a folded piece of leather that embraces the top edge portion of each ear flap. The ear flaps are not attached orconnected .to the neck shield B, but instead, consist of hinged or swinging elementsron the crown member that can move independentlvy of and relatively to the neck shield. As shown in the drawings, the rear edges of the .ear flaps are spaced vaway from the front edges of the neck shield. The neck shield or guard B is provided on its inner side with a padding, formed preferably from a piece of felt, sponge rubber, or other: suitablepadding material overlapped by a facing piece 6 of leather that embraces` the edge of the padding material and which is secured tothe guard B by stitches 1 (see Figures l, 2 and 3). Any Ysuitable means can be used to prevent the crown member A from coming indirect contact with the users head and injuring same, in the event the helmet strikes against an object, or is subjected to a blow from i a passing or falling object while the helmet is in operative position on the users head. In the helmet herein shown a shock-absorbing device, formed by four segmental-shaped pieces D, of leather or other suitable material, combined with a draw-string 8, are Yattached to the crown member A, so as to form a skeleton-like structure that engages the users head in a way that holdsthe crownA member A spaced slightly away from the head. l As shown in' Figure 4, the segmentalshaped pieces D extend inwardly and upwardly from the peripheral edge of the crown member A, and have their inner ends adjustably connected together by the draw-string 8 which extends through casings 8a in the free end portions of the segmental-shaped pieces D. By tightening or loosening the draw-string 8, the tension of the head contacting pieces D can be varied so as to in effect raise or lower the crown-member A with relation to the users head.- Preferably, a second draw-string 9 is positioned in casings formed in the segmental-shaped pieces D adjacent the points where said pieces are attached to the crown member A, so as to enable the pieces D to be adjusted to change the internal circumference of the shock-absorbing device of the helmet, thus providing a size adjustment that .can be changed quickly and easily. Pads of felt, rubber, or other suitable padding material I are preferably secured to the inner faces or sides of the segmental-shaped pieces D that are presented.

towards the crown member A, so as to eliminate the possibility of the users head being injured or made uncomfortable by contact. with the edge portion of the crown member A. Under no circumstances is it possible for the users head to be struck by the relatively stiff and hard crown member A, due to the fact that there is a padded band which extends around the interior of the crown member A at the bottom edge of same, and there is a skeleton-like structure, under tension, that covers the crown of the users head and holds the stiff member A spaced slightly above the crown of the users head.

In helmets of conventional construction the helmet is retained in operative position on the users head by a chin strap attached to the lower ends of the ear aps of the helmet in such a way as to draw said ear flaps inwardly into engagement with the side portion of the users face. In installing and removing such a helmet it is necessary that the chin strap be manipulated or adjusted, and, under certain conditions, or at certain times, this is highly objectionable. Accordingly, we have discarded the conventional chin strap and have constructed the helmet so that there is no portion of same that is disposed transversely, in front of the users face or throat, that has to be released or manipulated before the helmet can be removed from the users head. In our improved helmet the ear flaps C are drawn inwardly towards each other and are held in snug engagement with the side portions of the users face by retaining devices, preferably of a resilient or elastic nature, that lead forwardly from the neck shield or guard B, and which are attached to the lower end portions of the ear flaps C. Preferably, the retaining devices just referred to are formed byra member E made of elastic webbing, arranged transversely on the inner side of the neck shield or rear guard B, as shown in Figure 1, and having its end portions projecting outwardly through upright slots in the guard B, the end portions of said piece of elastic webbing E having fastening devices forl enabling them to be detachably connected to the lower ends of the ear flaps C. It is immaterial what type or kind of means is used for enabling the end portions of the member E to be detachably connected to the ear flaps, but we prefer to use for this purpose conventional glove fasteners` comprising buttons I2, carried by the ear flaps, and co-operating socket pieces l22L carried by the resilient member E. As shown in the drawings, a plurality of socket pieces |2EL are provided for each end portion of the member E, so as to enable said member to be set or adjusted so as .to produce a different pressure or inward pull on the lower end of the ear flaps C. In the normal use of the helmet the end portions of the member E lead forwardly from the back shield or guard B, and embrace the lower end portions of the ear aps to which the free ends of the member E are detachably connected by the co-acting glove fastener elements on said parts. The portion 0f the resilient or elastic element E that is positioned on the inner side of the guard or shield B, presses against the back part of the users head at a point just above the nape of the neck, and hence, tends to prevent the helmet from moving upwardly relatively to the users head. The tendency of the helmet to move upwardly is also overcome by the clamping action or clamping pressure exerted on the side portions of the users face by the ear flaps C, which ear flaps, as previously stated, are separated by joints from the neck shield or rear guard B and are drawn inwardly into snug engagement with the users jaw bones by the resilient member E, which is maintained in a taut condition by its inherent elasticity and by the pressure which the back portion of the users head or neck exerts on the portion of the member E that extends transversely across the concaved portion of the neck shield or guard B. In the event the user desires to keep the helmet on his head without having his ears covered by the ear flaps, the ear flaps can be swung upwardly relatively to the neck shield into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 1,` and retained in this inactive position by a transversely-disposed retaining strap I3 attached to the crown member A, and provided at its ends with glove fastener elements or similar devices or elements i3a that can be snapped into engagement with co-acting fastening devices I3b on the ear flaps. When the ear flaps are arranged in such an inactive or inoperative position, the free end portions of the elastic member E are folded upwardly and arranged in crossed relationship on the rear side of the neck guard D, as shown in full lines in Figure 2 and in broken lines in Figure 3, and retained in this position by glove fastener elements or similar retaining elements I4 thereon that are snapped into engagement with co-acting parts Hlab on the exterior of the neck guard B. Normally, however, the ear flaps C are drawn inwardly towards each other, as shown in Figure 3, by the pull which the resilient or elastic member E exerts on the lower end portions of the ear flaps.

The ear flaps C are provided with ear phone holders which are of novel construction, in that they have provision for enabling ear phones to be easily installed in or removed from the ear flaps and also for enabling the ear phones to be adjusted relatively to the ear flaps to adapt them to the particular user. Each ear flap C has attached to the outer side of same a supporting member I5 (see Figure 6) formed preferably from av piece of molded hard fibre that is secured by stitches |6 to the ear flap. A hole I1 is formed in the supporting member I5 to receive Vthe ear phone, said hole Il being oblong-shaped and arranged with its greatest dimension disposed horizontally, so as to provide for a horizontal adjustment of the ear phone forwardly and rearwardly. The shortest dimension or vertical axis of the hole l1 is of slightly less length than the flanged portion of the ear phone that is presented towards the users ear, so as to enable the ear phone to be installed from the outside of the ear flap, by arranging the ear phone in an angular or tilted position, then inserting the anged portion 'of same edgewise through the hole l1 in the supporting member I5, and then restoring the ear phone to its normal position, wherein the anged portion of same lies behind or on the inner side of the supporting member I5 with a cylindrical portion of the ear phone projecting outwardly through the hole Il in said supporting member.

The said cylindrical portion of the ear phone that projects outwardly through the hole I1 is of smaller diameter than the horizontal axis of the hole I1. Consequently, the ear phone can be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly in its supporting member I5, into the position' where it is most comfortable to the user. A hole I'Ia of slightly larger size than the hole I'I is formed in the body portionof the ear flap, or, in other words, in the padded portion of the ear flap, so as to receive the anged inner portion of the ear phone, the ear phone being shown diagrammatically in Figure 2, and designated by the reference character :v The ear phone is retained in operative position in the supporting member I5 by a tab I8 i attached to the inner side of the ear flap, as shown in Figure 5, and arranged in overlapping relation with the hole I'Ia in the body portion of the ear flap that receives the flanged inner portion of the ear phone. Said tab I8 is provided with an extension I9 that passes through a slot in the supporting member I5 and then projects upwardly, so as to embrace or surround the cylindrical portion of the ear phone that projects outwardly through the hole I'I in the supporting member I5, the upper end of said extension I9 being detachably fastened to the supporting member I5, as hereinafter explained. As shown in Figures 2 and 6, there is a yoke-shaped portion I9a on the extension I6 that snugly surrounds the outwardly-projecting, cylindrical portion of the ear phone. At the upper end of said yoke-shaped portion I9a is a fastening device 2l that is adapted to be engaged with one or the other of a group of fastening devices 2Ia carried by the supporting member I5. If it is desired to adjust the ear phone forwardly, the upper end of the extension above the yoke-shaped part that surrounds the portion of the ear phone that projects outwardly through the hole I'I in the supporting member, is released and shifted forwardly into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2, which operation shifts the ear phone forwardly relatively to the rigid supporting member I5 carried by the ear flap C. Similarly, if it is desired to adjust the ear phone rearwardly, the yokeshaped extension piece I9a that surrounds the outwardly-projecting portion of the ear phone can be moved rearwardly or to the right of the center line of the supporting member I5. The tab I8 on the inner side of the ear flap that laps over the inner side of the ear phone and prevents it from moving inwardly relatively to the rigid supporting member I5 in which it is positioned, is provided with a hole I 8a of elongated form, or other suitable shape, that will insure the users ear drum being in practically direct communication with the ear phone in any one of the various lateral adjustments of the ear phone. When the ear phones are in use, they are held in snug engagement with the users ears by shiftable spring arms 22 on the crown member A of the helmet that are adapted to be moved downwardly into overlapping relationship with the ear phones, as shown in Figure 3. The spring arms 22 also exert pressure on the ear aps C in a direction tending to press said flaps inwardly against the users head, and hence, said arms 22 assist in holding the helmet rmly in position on the users head. When the ear phones are not in use, the spring arms 22 are usually arranged horizontally in the position shown in Figure 2. The tabs I8 and the yoke-shaped extensions I9SL on said tabs are preferably formed of leather, and the portions of the tabs I8 in which the elongated openings |85 are located, are lpreferably provided with padding material, such as felt or rubber, so that the ear phones will not exert an objectionable pressure on the users ears. v Y

A protective helmet equipped with ear phone holders of the construction above described is desirable, 1st, in that the ear phones are mounted on the exterior of the ear flaps of the helmet; 2nd, the ear phones are mounted on the ear flaps inY such away that they canrbe easily installed and removed from the outside of the ear flaps; 3rd, during the installation or removal of the ear phones it is unnecessary to. break or establish any connections between the ear phones and the apparatus with which they co-.act; 4th, the ear phones can be easily shifted forwardly and rearwardly on the ear flaps on which they are mounted so as to arrange` them in the position where they will be most efficientv and most comfortable to the user; and 5th, when the ear phones are in use they are held in snug engagement with the users ears by a means independent of and separate and distinct from the ear fiaps of the helmet, thereby producing a greater degree of efficiency for the ear phones than is possible to obtain in a helmet of the kind in which snugtting of the ear naps of the helmet is relied upon to hold the ear phones in operative relationship with the users ears.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A protective helmet, comprising a crown member provided at its rear end with a depending rigid neck guard that is curved slightly in horizontal section, hinged ear flaps depending fromY said crown member and having their rear edges separated by gaps or open spaces from the front edges of said neck guard, a retaining means for the helmet comprising an elastic or resilient member on the inner side of the neck guard that Vis adapted to press against the back portion of the users head, and extensions on said member leading forwardly from said neck guard and detachably connected to the lower ends of said ear flaps in -a manner to draw said flaps inwardly towards each other.

2. A protective helmet, comprising a substantially rigid crown member provided at its rear end With a rigid depending neck guard whose inner side is of concave form, ear flaps hinged or pivotally attached to said crown member at a point in advance of said neck guard and separated from said guard by spaces, an elastic or resilient member arranged transversely of said neck guard on the inner side of same and having extensions that project outwardly through upright slots in said neck guard and then lead forwardly to the lower ends of the ear flaps to which said extensions are attached, and means for varying the tension which said elastic or resilient member exerts on the ear flaps.l

3. A protective helmet, comprising a crown member made of substantially rigid material and provided at its rear end with Aa depending neck guard that is curved slightly transversely and longitudinally so as to conform approximately to the back of the users head and neck, ear naps hinged to the crown member and separated by gaps from said neck guard, a shock-absorbing device on the interior of the helmet comprising padded pieces of leather or the like secured to the crown member, and a resilient or elastic re,- taining device leading forwardly from the neck guardand detachably and adjustably connected to the lower ends of said ear flaps.

4. A protective helmet, comprising a, crown member, ear flapsV on saidV crown member, and ear phone holders on said ear flaps having provision for setting the ear phones in various positions, forwardly and rearwardly with relation to the longitudinal center line of the aps and for holding the ear phones in adjusted position on the ear aps.

5. A protective helmet, comprising a crown member, ear flaps on saidcrown member, ear phone supporting devices on said flaps provided with horizontally disposed elongated holes adapted to receive portions of the ear phones that project outwardly through said holes, and adjustable means for removably clamping the ear phones in adjusted position in said supporting devices.

6. A protective helmet, comprising a crown member, padded ear aps attached to said crown member, ear phone supporting devices made of rigid or hard material attached to said ear iiaps and provided with horizontally-disposed, elongated openings adapted to receive portions of the ear phones that fit loosely in said openings, and adjustable parts on the ear ilaps that can be manipulated to shift the ear phones forwardly and rearwardly in the ear flaps and also hold the ear phones in adjusted position.

7. A protective helmet, comprising a substantially rigid crown member provided at itsv rear end with va depending neck guard or shield, padded ear naps hinged to said crown member and separated by open spaces from said neck guard, a member made of elastic webbing or the like, arranged transversely of said neck guard on the inner side of same and having extensions that project outwardly through upright slots in said guard, said extensions having provision for detachably connecting them to the lower end portions of said lear flaps, ear phone supporting devices on said ear flaps having horizontally disposed elongated holes in which the ear phones are adapted to be positioned and means for adjusting the ear phones forwardly and rearwardly in the elongated holes in said supporting devices and holding the ear phones in adjusted position in said devices.

8. A protective helmet, comprising a crown member, depending ear iiaps on said crown member, and spring arms on said crown member adapted tovbe arranged in overlapping relationship with said ear flaps to exert inward pressure on same.

9. A protective helmet, comprising a crown member, ear flaps on said crown member, means for mounting ear phones on said ear flaps, and adjustable spring arms on said crown member adapted to be positioned so as to press the flaps and ear phones inwardly towards the users head.

lO. A protective helmet provided with an ear flap, a part on said flapprovided with an opening into which an ear phone can be inserted with a portion of the ear phone projectingoutwardly through said opening, said opening being of considerably greater size than the outwardly-projecting portion of the earphone so as to permit the ear phone to be shifted relatively to the ear flaps into a plurality of different positions, and a transversely-adjustable part on the ear ap that snugly surrounds the outwardly-projecting portion of the 'ear phone and holds the ear phone in its selected position.

11. A protective helmet provided with an ear flap having a hole of a size sufcient to receive the inner end portion or ear contacting portion y of an ear phone, a substantially rigid or inflexible holder on the exterior of said ap provided with a horizontally-disposed, elongated opening out through which a portion of the ear phone extends,.the vertical dimension of said opening being less than the diameter of the said hole in the ear flapfand a means on the flap for preventing the ear phone from moving inwardly or out- Wardly relatively to the ap and for adjusting the ear phone forwardly or rearwardly relatively to the ear ap, into a position selected by the user.

MASON SCUDDER. ELMER NOL'IE.

HARRY B. LATINA. 

